Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 199

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

सुषेणा चन्द्रनिलया सुकीर्तिश्छिन्नसंशया / रसज्ञा रसदा रामा लेलिहानामृतस्त्रवा

Transliteration

suṣeṇā candranilayā sukīrtiśchinnasaṃśayā / rasajñā rasadā rāmā lelihānāmṛtastravā

Translation

اے دیوی! تو سُشےنا، چندر-نِلَیا—چاند میں بسنے والی روشنی، نیک نامی اور شک کاٹنے والی ہے۔ تو رَس کی جاننے والی، رَس دینے والی، راما (شری) ہے؛ گویا زبان سے امرت چکھ کر امرت کی دھارا بہاتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• सुषेणा: having a good host
• सुषेणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शेणा/सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु-शेणा (having a good army/retinue)

• चन्द्रनिलया: abode of the moon
• चन्द्रनिलया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—चन्द्रस्य निलयः/निलया (abode of the moon)

• सुकीर्तिः: good fame
• सुकीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सु-कीर्तिः (good fame)

• छिन्नसंशया: free from doubt
• छिन्नसंशया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद्) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—छिन्नः संशयः यस्याः (whose doubt is cut off)

• रसज्ञा: knower of essence
• रसज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रसस्य ज्ञा (knower of essence/flavor)

• रसदा: giver of essence
• रसदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + दा (प्रातिपदिक; √दा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रसं ददाति इति (giver of essence/juice)

• रामा: Rāmā
• रामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषनाम

• लेलिहाना: licking; lapping
• लेलिहाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लेलिहान (कृदन्त; √लिह्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले (present active participle: licking)

• अमृतस्त्रवा: nectar-flowing
• अमृतस्त्रवा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + स्त्रव (प्रातिपदिक; √स्त्रु/स्रु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—अमृतं स्त्रवति इति (flowing nectar)

Speaker

A devotee/sage reciting a stuti within the Ishvara Gita section (addressing the Supreme Lord as Śiva–Viṣṇu synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Rāmā/Śrī)
• Amṛta (nectar of immortality)
• Candra (Moon)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Supreme as the inner “rasa” (essential bliss/meaning) that is both known and bestowed—dispelling doubt and granting an experience likened to amṛta (immortality).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies a yogic fruit rather than a technique: doubt-cutting clarity (viveka) and tasting “rasa” through devotion and contemplative absorption—key aims aligned with Pāśupata-oriented inner purification in the Ishvara Gita.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By addressing the Supreme with epithets that comfortably include Śrī/Rāmā (Vaiṣṇava resonance) alongside a doubt-destroying, nectar-bestowing Īśvara (Śaiva resonance), it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian, unified Īśvara vision.